A study to assess the minor health problems in under five children and the health seeking measures followed by mothers in selected areas
Saly Stains and Dr. R Sudha
Background: Most deaths among under five children are still attributable to just a handful of conditions and are avoidable through existing interventions. Diarrhea and acute respiratory tract infection are the most common causes of mortality during the childhood period (Parimi et al., 2004). Minor health problems in under five children can cause serious consequences if there is any delay in seeking appropriate care or not seeking any care. It is the responsibility of the care giver especially the mother to seek appropriate health care without any delay to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality. The current study aimed to assess the minor health problems in under five children and the health seeking measures followed by mothers in selected areas.
Methodology: Research approach used in this study was exploratory in nature and research design used was descriptive design. Samples of the study consisted of mothers of under five children residing at selected community, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria who were selected using non-probability convenient sampling. The data collection tool used in the study was semi-structured interview guide.
Results: 83.3% of the mothers reported that their children suffered from increased frequency of loose stools, 80% of them reported common cold, whereas 66.7% of them reported cough in their children. 50% of the mothers reported refusal to take food or water in their children, whereas 30% of them reported nausea and vomiting. 72.7% of the mothers sought medical advice for rise in body temperature, whereas 64% of them sought the medical advice for increased frequency of loose stools in children.50% of the mothers sought medical advice for cough in their children, whereas 45.8% of them for common cold in their children. There was a statistically significant association found between minor health problems such as increased frequency of loose stools, rise in body temperature and common cold with demographic variables like age of the mother, education, monthly family income and number of under five children. There was a statistically significant association found between health seeking measures followed by mothers of under five children with diarrhea, with demographic variables of the mother like education, employment, monthly income and type of family.
Conclusion: The present study concluded that mothers play an important role in prevention and management of minor health problems in their children. Even though the mothers of under five children had access to information regarding management and prevention of complications in children, only few mothers followed adequate measures. It is the responsibility of the nurse to reinforce, and educate the mothers on the importance of following various measures that can prevent complications in their children.
Saly Stains, Dr. R Sudha. A study to assess the minor health problems in under five children and the health seeking measures followed by mothers in selected areas. Int J Adv Res Nurs 2024;7(1):150-154. DOI: 10.33545/nursing.2024.v7.i1.C.382